DIY Stool with Bunny Ears

Last fall I had this burning desire to make a little stool with bunny ears after seeing one in an advertisement for an airline.  A few days later, I spotted a little wood stool at the landfill:  

Obviously the Universe was on board with me making a bunny stool too.  It was such a simple little furniture hack, but it turned out so adorable.  I have no idea why the heck I wanted to make this, but darn it if it doesn't make me laugh every time I look at it...  

Those EARS! 

After I lugged my new (old) stool home, I gave it a light sand and a wash and then let it dry.  It was grimey and chipped and needed a fresh coat of paint. 

Next Handy Hubby and I free-hand sketched two lopsided rabbit ears onto scrap plywood and, using a jigsaw, cut them out.  We were working on another project at the time, so this took two seconds. 

I lightly sanded the edges of the ears for a smooth finish (you can also add some edge band), and then we affixed them to the stool, screwing them in from the bottom.  Easy peasy.

I was tempted to draw a face but my Mom said it would look more Scandi - and less kiddie - if I spray painted it all one color.  So I gave everything a blast of white spray primer + paint in a gloss finish.

It is the cutest thing ever and I have absolutely no legitimate use or need for it, but I have been using it for six months as a plant stand.  Picture a sweet little bunny face - or one in the shape of a fox! - for a sweet addition to a kid's play room. 





So silly, but so perfect for spring, right?  I'm ready...

Easy DIY Walnut Plant Dolly

Feel free to congratulate me on keeping this massive jade plant alive for the past year and a half.  It's a little dusty, but growing!  Hello little leaves.

Everyone says these are easy to maintain, but I've killed one before (after many good years together), so every day that this guy looks green and happy is a victory for me.  He seems to be enjoying his spot in the lakehouse, although he and Szuka do fight for window space.  Whenever I move him to wash the floors, she immediately settles into his spot, staking her claim on the whole wall of windows.  I don't move him often, though, because he weighs a TON.  His relatively stationary life has made him grow a little kitty womper, because I don't rotate him enough. 

Looking for an easy way to move this massive plant, I started looking into plant dollies but I couldn't find a cute one so I abandoned the search.  While shopping online for supplies for a different project, I stumbled across nice low profile castors and decided that a DIY walnut plant dolly might just be the easiest thing to make!

Supplies:

• Round Wood Cutting Board (I bought this exact one)
• Castors with Plate (these are the exact ones I bought - I bought a pack of 10, needed 4)
• 3/4" Screws

To make life easier (we loathe cutting circles), I bought a solid wood cutting board.  I ordered mine online and it was kind of expensive, but I always see inexpensive ones at places like Home Goods and HomeSense.  A less expensive wood, like bamboo, will only cost around $10 and acacia is in the middle (around $30).  I just love me some walnut.

For size, I recommend choosing a cutting board that has a diameter 2 to 4 inches larger than the base of your flower pot.  For thickness, I went with 3/4" and for strength I don't recommend any thinner, but thicker would work too.  I also chose one with a juice drip groove just in case but I doubt I'll ever need it because I've never over-watered the plant before.

How to Make a Plant Dolly:

The next step was painfully easy: just place the castors equally spaced out, about an 1/8" from the edge of the cutting board.  The wider the castors are placed, the more stable the dolly will be, so I inset them just enough so they can't be seen from the top.

Mark where the screw holes are once the castors are positioned.  Remove the castors and pre-drill the holes.  Put the castors back in place and screw them in.  Just make sure you don't screw to the other side (you can use a piece of tape on your drill as a poor man's depth guide, that's what I do).

That's IT!

I am obsessed with how cute this looks!  The walnut really blends in nicely with our floors and these castors glide so smoothly, although, because the jade is so heavy, it's still really stable.  We need to purposefully move it, which is good.  A lighter plant might go skittering across the floor when brushed against, with such smooth castors.  No problems with Szuka knocking it over because she realized one Day One that the jade now moves, so she's been really gentle around it, it's kind of adorable.  If you have some overzealous pups or kitties, castors that lock (like these cuties) might be a good investment - and maybe even a super shallow wood bowl or a cutting board with a lip might be a good idea. 

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Modern DIY Plywood Projects - 15 Ideas to Inspire You

Although I will always favor solid wood (I'm currently in my home office, admiring the DIY solid walnut desk), plywood has a special place in my heart.  It's affordable, versatile and comes in gorgeous veneers ranging from walnut to knotty pine.  If you're looking for inspiration, here's a list of 15 modern plywood DIY projects - including some of our favorite plywood projects, from the Dans le Lakehouse archives.

Easy DIY Plywood Counter Top

How gorgeous is this plywood counter top?  It's such a perfect choice for a laundry room, where not everyone can - or wants to - drop major coin on a solid surface counter.  It was made for under $100!  Seeing this project makes me really antsy to renovate our laundry room (not that hiding it with a curtain didn't do the trick for now!)  In the meantime, I did pick up a little inspiration from this boho laundry room and add a wicker laundry basket to mine. 

Quirky DIY Plywood Wall Art

This unusual wall art is the perfect way to put plywood scraps to good use!  The different shapes and stains add a lot of interest and warmth to an otherwise minimalist white wall.

Clever DIY Plywood Day Bed with Storage

How cute is this plywood day bed?  I love that it boasts hidden storage inside - that's so practical for smaller spaces and guest rooms. 

Our Gorgeous DIY Walnut Plywood Bed

You knew I'd include our recent DIY bed on this list!  Even though not everyone can whip up those welded legs (you can buy some that are kind of similar), the frame is SO easy.  Imagine it with mid-century modern legs...these sturdy hairpin legs might work.

Inexpensive DIY Plywood Credenza Top

Our plywood topped fauxdenza is still going strong even though the whole credenza was fairly inexpensive.  I would have loved to have splurged on a slab of live edge, exotic purpleheart wood that I spotted while we were shopping for supplies, but plywood fit into our budget so much easier!

Practical DIY Plywood Storage Bench

An unused wall was packed with function thanks to this DIY storage cubby meets bench.  What a great multi-function project.  

Turquoise Painted DIY Plywood Magazine Storage

A white wash finish really brought out the grain on our DIY magazine holders - but the turquoise interior is really what makes me smile!  This was such a practical project and they still have pride of place on my Expedit in the office.

Versatile DIY Plywood Desk on Hairpin Legs

This DIY plywood desk has a secret: it's transformable and can adapt to different tasks.  Such a great idea for a hardworking space.  Plus I'm drooling over the idea of mint hairpin legs!  Why do hairpin legs just look SO GOOD with plywood projects?

Handy DIY Walnut Plywood Storage Bins with Lid

I am still so smitten with these walnut plywood storage bins build we made - they are great for stashing stuff in our otherwise storage-less bedside tables.  Plus now they complement our walnut bed!  

Minimalist DIY Plywood Side Table

This plywood side table on - you guessed it: black hairpin legs - is such an easy beginner project.  It's simple and straightforward to make but looks so modern and chic.  I'm also loving those casual eucalyptus branches.  I tried to grow a eucalyptus plant inside during the fall, but it withered and died - dried eucalyptus might be more my speed.   

Mid Century Modern Inspired DIY Plywood Bench

Check out how slick this DIY plywood bench looks - but it's such a simple project as well.  The glam gold legs are the perfect finishing touch - these mini hairpin legs or these walnut ones would be cute too. 

DIY Plywood Outdoor Sofa

This plywood project takes the cake!  Hubby and I have wanted an outdoor sofa for the deck but outdoor furniture is pricey.  I don't know if we'll have time this summer, but I love the idea of just making something.  I already found the perfect turquoise sunbrella outdoor pillows, so I'm extra motivated!

 
Simple DIY Plywood Dog Bowl Stand

Both of Szuka's raised dog bowl stands were made with leftover plywood and hairpin legs.  Those hairpin legs make a simple design look so retro.

DIY Plywood Necklace Display

Another great beginner woodworking project - or the perfect way to use up scraps - this triangle jewelry stand beautifully displays necklaces.  Why not turn those pretty baubles into art?

DIY Plywood Peg Wall

The plywood peg wall featured below was shared on Apartment Therapy and it got me thinking that a plywood peg wall might be a fun project for the "fish room" (what I hope to turn into my craft room - see the house tour for photos).  Here's a great tutorial, if you're thinking you could use a pretty peg wall somewhere too.

If you're going to try any of these DIY plywood projects, skip the home improvement stores.  I hate seeing a great DIY project marred by construction grade plywood.  Head to a local lumber yard instead, where you will find a bevy of gorgeous wood grains.  My local Windsor Plywood stocks so many gorgeous veneered plywood varieties, including teak, walnut, maple, oak, and cherry.  If you absolutely cannot find any locally, you can always order sheets of specialty plywoods like walnut online, which certainly adds to the price but sometimes it's the best option!  For the edges, I prefer to edge band my plywood with matching edge band but I think these examples demonstrate that it can look good raw, too.

Have I missed a favorite plywood project?  Let me know in the comments!

P.S. Check out my Pinterest board devoted to DIY furniture for more ideas and inspiration!

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DIY Birch Wood Slice Ornament with Wood Burned Design

While I was visiting Ashley in Ottawa, we got a little crafty.  We had both seen these and these wood burned birch slice ornaments on Pinterest, and decided to try making some ourselves!

Supplies:
Birch branch or pre-cut and drilled wood slices
Wood burner*
Drill (if you're making your own slices)
Chop saw or hand saw (if you're making your own slices)
Narrow plaid ribbon or twine
Pencil
Pliers (to change wood burner tips)
Old chopping block or cookie sheet (to protect work surface from wood burner)

*Ashley used a 50% off coupon at Michael's and bought a wood burner for around $25 plus tax.  I've linked to the same tool on amazon, which is about $23 plus shipping.  We chose this tool because it came with a variety of tips, a stand, and was a great price.  Plus, it can also be used on leather and other materials, so it's pretty versatile.

Steps:
Ashley's Handy Hubby cut birch slices for us and even drilled the holes so they were ready for hanging.  If you're tackling this project, you can also buy wood slices sanded and ready for use.  We left the bark on, instead of peeling it off and sanding smooth, because Ashley preferred the rustic, natural look.

Wine in hand (not recommended), we spent an evening taking turns with the wood burner, creating a series of snowflake designs - no two alike!  First we roughly sketched out a design using a pencil (using these as our inspiration), and then simply tried our best to trace that design using the wood burner.  You can also transfer a design on to the wood slices if you'd prefer to use some clip art - the wood burner I linked to even includes a transfer point so you can transfer laser printed images onto a surface with ease.

Neither of us had used a wood burner before, so we really experimented with different designs and all of the wood burning tips.  We created some duds during our experimentation, but we had a lot of fun - actually, this project is kind of meditative because it's so repetitive and simple.  Plus, the burning wood smells strangely good. 

When we were done, we let the designs cool and then threaded a narrow plaid ribbon through the drilled holes, finished with a knot, and then used a dab of clear nail polish to keep the ends from fraying.  These would also make adorable gift tags, and you could burn initials, names, or meaningful dates on the other side.

I can't say we're pros, but we learned a few tips for any wood burner newbies:

• Protect your table with an old chopping block or cookie sheet so if you drop the tool, or switch out the tips, your work surface is protected.
• Start with a simple design while you get the feel for the tool - snowflakes were easy!
• If you can, it's best to sketch out only a rough design as a guide and free-hand with the wood burner as much as possible, because erasing the pencil, if any isn't covered by the wood burner, is tricky.
• The hotter the wood burner, the smoother and more fluidly it will move across the wood, so experiment with the heat a little (the instructions recommend only a range of temperatures).
• "Drawing" with the wood burner is not what you might expect: we ended up making lots of short strokes - kind of like sketching.
• Work slowly and build up the intensity of the wood burned areas - you can go over areas as many times as you like to smooth out the design.
• Practice is key!  Have some scrap wood on hand to experiment with techniques, tips and heat - especially if you bought pre-cut wood slices and have a finite number of them.
• Take breaks so you don't overheat the tool.
• Use a pair of pliers to change the tips and allow a new tip to heat up before using.

Here's a look at the wood slice ornaments on Ashley's tree.  She has such a cute assortment of rustic ornaments, with a smattering of glittering balls for some sparkle.  I helped her trim the tree before I left and we spent a long time weaving that plaid ribbon garland just so, so if you want to take a moment to admire our handiwork, we definitely won't mind...
 

Have you used a wood burner before?  I'd love to hear your tips and experiences! 

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